Noeh NazerenoState Hornet

Twelve years have passed since “El Mariachi.” Over eight years since “Desperado.” Add to those an adventure that went “From Dusk Till Dawn,” a weird “Faculty” and the chronicles of some “Spy Kids.” The present day brings a career full circle for one of the newest and most significant directors of the last decade.

Robert Rodriguez returned for the closing chapter of a series that made household names out of Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and himself. “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” seals the fate of the infamous guitar player.

El Mariachi (Banderas) has been summoned by CIA Agent Sands (Johnny Depp of “Pirates of the Caribbean”) to assassinate General Marquez, a major player in an underground campaign to overthrow the Mexican government. Marquez is also teamed up with Barillo (Willem Dafoe of “Finding Nemo”) in said campaign, who, in turn, is being hunted down by retired FBI Agent Jorge Ramirez (Ruben Blades). Ramirez wants revenge on Barillo for killing his partner, and is sent on his way to closure by Sands himself.

Does that sound convoluted or even the least bit mixed up? If you said “yes,” you’re not alone. There hasn’t been a movie this simultaneously enjoyable and perplexing since the first “Mission: Impossible” flick. But between style and sentiment, it’s hard to tell Mr. Rodriguez did a lackluster job. Especially considering the DVD supplements, but we’ll get to that later.

One gets the feeling that Banderas and Hayek were joined by an all-star cast of reliable cinematic thespians for good reason, and it’s well-proven here. Timing must really be in Depp’s blood, because considering the film was done over two years ago, it really proves that he can go from role to role without skipping a beat. He’s winning, and dare I say against popular opinion, not as scene-stealing as been noted.

It’s a good thing, because the relaxed and restrained performances by the cast complements Depp’s shining star well. Banderas develops El Mariachi by giving him a more mature demeanor. He’s become a more volatile and petulant killing machine because of what he treasures most. Hayek is sultry in every frame she’s in, and we’re reminded why we fell for her hard eight years ago. Dafoe and Blades take themselves seriously enough to remind the audience why seasoned actors like themselves are like fine wines: they get better with age. So if you haven’t been privy to their film resumes, look them up on imdb.com soon.

The DVD is a beautiful thing. Rodriguez used “Mexico” as his personal test for high definition technology, and the naked eye can see the results on a normal television set. There is nary a scratch or odd particle in the print, which makes the film like a moving piece of art in a museum.

The soundtrack will suffice, as it feels too front-heavy. In the end, we can hear someone getting blasted away, but it’s the visual of them flying 50 feet across the floor that will matter most.

Mr. Director has also provided a number of great featurettes, all revealing the brilliance and efficiency of this popcorn flick. Of the half dozen pieces, the notables are “Ten Minute Flick School” (a great how-to in making films smartly), “Inside Troublemaker Studios” (a look inside Rodriguez’s in-home production studio) and “Film is Dead: An Evening with Robert Rodriguez” (a Q & A session where Rodriguez answers to an early screening crowd). All are informative and above fluff pieces in quality. Naturally, the commentary he provides is also exciting, not to be missed by anyone remotely fascinated by how he does what he does.

“Once Upon a Time in Mexico” may be a sub-par flick, but the DVD gives the film and the “Mariachi” series the immaculate treatment it so deserves. It’s a job well done for Rodriguez and company.